Can Dry Mouth Be a Sign of Sleep Apnea?

Key takeaways

What is obstructive sleep apnea?

In OSA, the muscles at the back of the throat relax during sleep and fail to keep the airway open, even though you keep trying to breathe. This causes repeated pauses in breathing through the night, which disrupt sleep and can lower blood oxygen levels. Common symptoms include loud snoring, daytime sleepiness and morning headaches. Dry mouth is another symptom that can have a big effect on people with OSA. Read Snoring or Sleep Apnea? Signs Your Dentist Can Spot.

Why sleep apnea causes dry mouth

Dry mouth means there isn't enough saliva in your mouth. It is common in people with OSA for several reasons:

• Mouth breathing: when the airway is partly or fully blocked, people often breathe through their mouth to get air. Breathing through the mouth for hours at night dries out saliva.
• CPAP machines: CPAP keeps the airway open, but it can dry the mouth, especially if the mask doesn't fit well, the pressure is high or you breathe through your mouth while using it.
• Medications: many people with OSA take medications for conditions such as high blood pressure, allergies or anxiety. Some of these reduce saliva.

How dry mouth affects your oral health

Dry mouth is more than uncomfortable. It can affect your teeth, gums and overall well-being:

• More tooth decay: saliva neutralizes acids made by bacteria. Without enough saliva, these acids can erode enamel and cause cavities.
• Gum disease: less saliva means more plaque and tartar buildup, which raises the risk of gum disease, bleeding gums and, if untreated, tooth loss.
• Bad breath: saliva washes away food and bacteria. When it is reduced, odor-causing bacteria build up. Read How to Get Rid of Bad Breath from Gum Disease.
• Trouble eating and speaking: a dry mouth can make chewing, swallowing and talking uncomfortable.

How to manage dry mouth with sleep apnea

• Get your CPAP fitted well: make sure the mask fits, and ask about a heated humidifier. Your doctor can also adjust the pressure if needed.
• Stay hydrated: drink water through the day and limit caffeine and alcohol, which can dry your mouth.
• Keep up good oral hygiene: brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily. A mouthwash made for dry mouth can help.
• Try saliva substitutes: over-the-counter sprays, lozenges and gels can relieve dryness.
• Limit sugar and acidic foods: they raise the risk of decay when your mouth is dry.
• Chew sugar-free gum: gum with xylitol stimulates saliva and can help protect against decay.

When to get help

If you often wake up with a dry mouth, especially with snoring, gasping at night or daytime tiredness, talk to your doctor or dentist. A sleep test is the only way to diagnose sleep apnea. If you already have OSA and dry mouth, your sleep physician and dentist can work together to adjust your treatment. For people who can't tolerate CPAP, a custom oral appliance may be an option. Read Oral Appliance vs CPAP.

Talk to a dental sleep specialist

If dry mouth, snoring or tiredness are part of your mornings, book a visit. Dr. Desai can screen for sleep apnea and work with your physician on the next steps.

Learn more about Sleep Apnea →